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Trailhead Information

This is a list of trailhead names for wilderness permit purposes. (A map showing each trailhead is also available [1.5 MB PDF].) The total quota for each trailhead is the sum of the reservable and first-come, first-served quotas. (The quota refers to number of people, not number of permits.)

Many restrooms do not have potable water. All trailheads have food lockers available, except when noted otherwise.

Please note that Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road trailheads have no vehicle access when these roads are closed, typically from around November to May or early June. Additionally, overnight parking is not allowed on the Tioga and Glacier Point Roads beginning October 15; this includes parking lots accessible from these roads.

*Trailhead parking lot is just beyond Half Dome Village (formerly Curry Village) (and about a half-mile from Happy Isles). Use the free Yosemite Valley shuttle bus to get to trailheads. Parking is not available at Happy Isles, Mirror Lake, or Yosemite Falls trailheads.

First, look on a map of where you are planning to go and go over the list again. If you still haven't found your trailhead name, the following information should help you.

What trail do I use to camp overnight while hiking Half Dome?

The following trailheads allow (and require) you to stay at the Little Yosemite Valley Campground on the first night of your trip:From Yosemite Valley: Happy Isles to Little Yosemite ValleyFrom Glacier Point: Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley
If you have a permit for one of these two trailheads, you must spend your first night at Little Yosemite Valley Campground (no additional reservation or permit required).

A number of trails from Tuolumne Meadows also provide indirect access to Little Yosemite Valley (20- to 40-mile hike). If you have a permit for one of these trailheads, you can spend the second night of your backpacking trip at Little Yosemite Valley Campground (no additional reservation or permit required).

What is the difference between the three Happy Isles trailheads?

As that starting point is the most popular in the park, the quota is divided into three categories according to where you want to camp.

For long-distance hikers, to pass through the Little Yosemite Valley/Half Dome area and camp beyond that, in the direction of either Merced Lake or Sunrise High Sierra Camp: Happy Isles to Sunrise/Merced Lake (pass through)